diff --git a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_android_Network.cpp b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_android_Network.cpp
index fed05ca43c..1c5c10c390 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_android_Network.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_android_Network.cpp
@@ -80,9 +80,17 @@ public:
     {}
 
     ~Pimpl()
+    {
+        cancel();
+    }
+
+    void cancel()
     {
         if (stream != 0)
+        {
             stream.callVoidMethod (HTTPStream.release);
+            stream.clear();
+        }
     }
 
     bool connect (WebInputStream::Listener* listener)
@@ -154,7 +162,11 @@ public:
 
                 responseHeaders.set (key, previousValue.isEmpty() ? value : (previousValue + "," + value));
             }
+
+            return true;
         }
+
+        return false;
     }
 
     //==============================================================================
@@ -219,3 +231,8 @@ private:
     GlobalRef stream;
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (Pimpl)
 };
+
+URL::DownloadTask* URL::downloadToFile (const File& targetLocation, String extraHeaders, DownloadTask::Listener* listener)
+{
+    return URL::DownloadTask::createFallbackDownloader (*this, targetLocation, extraHeaders, listener);
+}
diff --git a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_curl_Network.cpp b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_curl_Network.cpp
index 3148ec840a..1a63932022 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_curl_Network.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_curl_Network.cpp
@@ -135,6 +135,11 @@ public:
         }
     }
 
+    void cancel()
+    {
+        cleanup();
+    }
+
     //==============================================================================
     bool setOptions ()
     {
@@ -512,3 +517,8 @@ public:
 
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (Pimpl)
 };
+
+URL::DownloadTask* URL::downloadToFile (const File& targetLocation, String extraHeaders, DownloadTask::Listener* listener)
+{
+    return URL::DownloadTask::createFallbackDownloader (*this, targetLocation, extraHeaders, listener);
+}
diff --git a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_linux_Network.cpp b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_linux_Network.cpp
index 84904e1db2..d849cd8e4f 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_linux_Network.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_linux_Network.cpp
@@ -138,6 +138,14 @@ public:
         return (statusCode != 0);
     }
 
+    void cancel()
+    {
+        statusCode = -1;
+        finished = true;
+
+        closeSocket();
+    }
+
     //==============================================================================w
     bool isError() const                 { return socketHandle < 0; }
     bool isExhausted()                   { return finished; }
@@ -556,4 +564,9 @@ private:
 
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (Pimpl)
 };
+
+URL::DownloadTask* URL::downloadToFile (const File& targetLocation, String extraHeaders, DownloadTask::Listener* listener)
+{
+    return URL::DownloadTask::createFallbackDownloader (*this, targetLocation, extraHeaders, listener);
+}
 #endif
diff --git a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_mac_Network.mm b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_mac_Network.mm
index 5ebd1a4fb6..c6bf225f80 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_mac_Network.mm
+++ b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_mac_Network.mm
@@ -150,6 +150,12 @@ public:
         [data release];
     }
 
+    void cancel()
+    {
+        signalThreadShouldExit();
+        stopThread (10000);
+    }
+
     bool start (WebInputStream& inputStream, WebInputStream::Listener* listener)
     {
         startThread();
@@ -369,6 +375,200 @@ private:
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (URLConnectionState)
 };
 
+//==============================================================================
+#if JUCE_IOS
+struct BackgroundDownloadTask  : public URL::DownloadTask
+{
+    BackgroundDownloadTask (const URL& urlToUse,
+                            const File& targetLocationToUse,
+                            String extraHeadersToUse,
+                            URL::DownloadTask::Listener* listenerToUse)
+         : targetLocation (targetLocationToUse), listener (listenerToUse),
+           delegate (nullptr), session (nullptr), downloadTask (nullptr),
+           connectFinished (false), calledComplete (0)
+    {
+        downloaded = -1;
+
+        static DelegateClass cls;
+        delegate = [cls.createInstance() init];
+        DelegateClass::setState (delegate, this);
+
+        String uniqueIdentifier = String (urlToUse.toString (true).hashCode64()) + String (Random().nextInt64());
+        NSMutableURLRequest* request = [[NSMutableURLRequest alloc] initWithURL:[NSURL URLWithString:juceStringToNS (urlToUse.toString (true))]];
+
+        StringArray headerLines;
+        headerLines.addLines (extraHeadersToUse);
+        headerLines.removeEmptyStrings (true);
+
+        for (int i = 0; i < headerLines.size(); ++i)
+        {
+            String key   = headerLines[i].upToFirstOccurrenceOf (":", false, false).trim();
+            String value = headerLines[i].fromFirstOccurrenceOf (":", false, false).trim();
+
+            if (key.isNotEmpty() && value.isNotEmpty())
+                [request addValue: juceStringToNS (value) forHTTPHeaderField: juceStringToNS (key)];
+        }
+
+        session =
+            [NSURLSession sessionWithConfiguration:[NSURLSessionConfiguration backgroundSessionConfigurationWithIdentifier:juceStringToNS (uniqueIdentifier)]
+                                          delegate:delegate
+                                     delegateQueue:nullptr];
+
+        if (session != nullptr)
+            downloadTask = [session downloadTaskWithRequest:request];
+
+        [request release];
+    }
+
+    ~BackgroundDownloadTask()
+    {
+        [session release];
+        [delegate release];
+    }
+
+    bool initOK()
+    {
+        return (downloadTask != nullptr);
+    }
+
+    bool connect()
+    {
+        [downloadTask resume];
+        while (downloaded == -1 && finished == false)
+            Thread::sleep (1);
+
+        connectFinished = true;
+        return ! error;
+    }
+
+    //==============================================================================
+    File targetLocation;
+    URL::DownloadTask::Listener* listener;
+    NSObject<NSURLSessionDelegate>* delegate;
+    NSURLSession* session;
+    NSURLSessionDownloadTask* downloadTask;
+    bool connectFinished;
+    Atomic<int> calledComplete;
+
+    void didWriteData (int64 totalBytesWritten, int64 totalBytesExpectedToWrite)
+    {
+        downloaded = totalBytesWritten;
+
+        if (contentLength == -1)
+            contentLength = totalBytesExpectedToWrite;
+
+        if (connectFinished && error == false && finished == false && listener != nullptr)
+            listener->progress (this, totalBytesWritten, contentLength);
+    }
+
+   void didFinishDownloadingToURL (NSURL* location)
+   {
+       NSFileManager* fileManager = [[NSFileManager alloc] init];
+       error = ([fileManager moveItemAtURL:location
+                                     toURL:[NSURL fileURLWithPath:juceStringToNS (targetLocation.getFullPathName())]
+                                     error:nullptr] == NO);
+       httpCode = 200;
+       finished = true;
+
+       if (listener != nullptr && calledComplete.exchange (1) == 0)
+       {
+           if (contentLength > 0 && downloaded < contentLength)
+           {
+               downloaded = contentLength;
+               listener->progress (this, downloaded, contentLength);
+           }
+
+           listener->didComplete (this, !error);
+       }
+   }
+
+   void didCompleteWithError (NSError* nsError)
+   {
+       if (calledComplete.exchange (1) == 0)
+       {
+           httpCode = -1;
+
+           if (nsError != nullptr)
+           {
+               // see https://developer.apple.com/reference/foundation/nsurlsessiondownloadtask?language=objc
+               switch ([nsError code])
+               {
+                   case NSURLErrorUserAuthenticationRequired:
+                       httpCode = 401;
+                       break;
+                   case NSURLErrorNoPermissionsToReadFile:
+                       httpCode = 403;
+                       break;
+                   case NSURLErrorFileDoesNotExist:
+                       httpCode = 404;
+                       break;
+                   default:
+                       httpCode = 500;
+               }
+           }
+
+           error = true;
+           finished = true;
+
+           if (listener != nullptr)
+               listener->didComplete (this, ! error);
+       }
+   }
+
+    //==============================================================================
+    struct DelegateClass  : public ObjCClass<NSObject<NSURLSessionDelegate> >
+    {
+        DelegateClass()  : ObjCClass<NSObject<NSURLSessionDelegate> > ("JUCE_URLDelegate_")
+        {
+            addIvar<BackgroundDownloadTask*> ("state");
+
+            addMethod (@selector (URLSession:downloadTask:didWriteData:totalBytesWritten:totalBytesExpectedToWrite:),
+                       didWriteData,        "v@:@@qqq");
+            addMethod (@selector (URLSession:downloadTask:didFinishDownloadingToURL:),
+                       didFinishDownloadingToURL,        "v@:@@@");
+            addMethod (@selector (URLSession:task:didCompleteWithError:),
+                       didCompleteWithError,        "v@:@@@");
+
+            registerClass();
+        }
+
+        static void setState (id self, BackgroundDownloadTask* state)  { object_setInstanceVariable (self, "state", state); }
+        static BackgroundDownloadTask* getState (id self)              { return getIvar<BackgroundDownloadTask*> (self, "state"); }
+
+    private:
+        static void didWriteData (id self, SEL, NSURLSession*, NSURLSessionDownloadTask*, int64_t, int64_t totalBytesWritten, int64_t totalBytesExpectedToWrite)
+        {
+            if (auto state = getState (self)) state->didWriteData (totalBytesWritten, totalBytesExpectedToWrite);
+        }
+
+        static void didFinishDownloadingToURL (id self, SEL, NSURLSession*, NSURLSessionDownloadTask*, NSURL* location)
+        {
+            if (auto state = getState (self)) state->didFinishDownloadingToURL (location);
+        }
+
+        static void didCompleteWithError (id self, SEL, NSURLSession*, NSURLSessionTask*, NSError* nsError)
+        {
+            if (auto state = getState (self)) state->didCompleteWithError (nsError);
+        }
+    };
+};
+
+URL::DownloadTask* URL::downloadToFile (const File& targetLocation, String extraHeaders, DownloadTask::Listener* listener)
+{
+    ScopedPointer<BackgroundDownloadTask> downloadTask = new BackgroundDownloadTask (*this, targetLocation, extraHeaders, listener);
+
+    if (downloadTask->initOK() && downloadTask->connect())
+        return downloadTask.release();
+
+    return nullptr;
+}
+#else
+URL::DownloadTask* URL::downloadToFile (const File& targetLocation, String extraHeaders, DownloadTask::Listener* listener)
+{
+    return URL::DownloadTask::createFallbackDownloader (*this, targetLocation, extraHeaders, listener);
+}
+#endif
+
 //==============================================================================
 #else
 
@@ -440,6 +640,12 @@ public:
         stopThread (10000);
     }
 
+    void cancel()
+    {
+        hasFinished = hasFailed = true;
+        stop();
+    }
+
     int read (char* dest, int numBytes)
     {
         int numDone = 0;
@@ -615,6 +821,11 @@ private:
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (URLConnectionState)
 };
 
+URL::DownloadTask* URL::downloadToFile (const File& targetLocation, String extraHeaders, DownloadTask::Listener* listener)
+{
+    return URL::DownloadTask::createFallbackDownloader (*this, targetLocation, extraHeaders, listener);
+}
+
 #pragma clang diagnostic pop
 
 #endif
@@ -728,6 +939,15 @@ public:
         return true;
     }
 
+    void cancel()
+    {
+        if (finished || isError())
+            return;
+
+        if (connection != nullptr)
+            connection->cancel();
+    }
+
     int statusCode;
 
 private:
diff --git a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_win32_Network.cpp b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_win32_Network.cpp
index 174e351907..037f1a3801 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/native/juce_win32_Network.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_core/native/juce_win32_Network.cpp
@@ -185,6 +185,11 @@ public:
         return (int) bytesRead;
     }
 
+    void cancel()
+    {
+        close();
+    }
+
     bool setPosition (int64 wantedPos)
     {
         if (isError())
@@ -231,11 +236,11 @@ private:
 
     void close()
     {
-        if (request != 0)
-        {
-            InternetCloseHandle (request);
-            request = 0;
-        }
+        HINTERNET requestCopy = request;
+
+        request = 0;
+        if (requestCopy != 0)
+            InternetCloseHandle (requestCopy);
 
         if (connection != 0)
         {
@@ -548,3 +553,8 @@ bool JUCE_CALLTYPE Process::openEmailWithAttachments (const String& targetEmailA
 
     return mapiSendMail (0, 0, &message, MAPI_DIALOG | MAPI_LOGON_UI, 0) == SUCCESS_SUCCESS;
 }
+
+URL::DownloadTask* URL::downloadToFile (const File& targetLocation, String extraHeaders, DownloadTask::Listener* listener)
+{
+    return URL::DownloadTask::createFallbackDownloader (*this, targetLocation, extraHeaders, listener);
+}
diff --git a/modules/juce_core/network/juce_URL.cpp b/modules/juce_core/network/juce_URL.cpp
index fad4585011..0b18b09f98 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/network/juce_URL.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_core/network/juce_URL.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,104 @@
   ==============================================================================
 */
 
+//==============================================================================
+struct FallbackDownloadTask  : public URL::DownloadTask,
+                               public Thread
+{
+    FallbackDownloadTask (FileOutputStream* outputStreamToUse,
+                          size_t bufferSizeToUse,
+                          WebInputStream* streamToUse,
+                          URL::DownloadTask::Listener* listenerToUse)
+        : Thread ("DownloadTask thread"),
+          fileStream (outputStreamToUse),
+          bufferSize (bufferSizeToUse),
+          buffer (bufferSize),
+          stream (streamToUse),
+          listener (listenerToUse)
+    {
+        contentLength = stream->getTotalLength();
+        httpCode      = stream->getStatusCode();
+
+        startThread ();
+    }
+
+    ~FallbackDownloadTask()
+    {
+        signalThreadShouldExit();
+        stream->cancel();
+        waitForThreadToExit (-1);
+    }
+
+    //==============================================================================
+    void run() override
+    {
+        while (! stream->isExhausted() && ! stream->isError() && ! threadShouldExit())
+        {
+            if (listener != nullptr)
+                listener->progress (this, downloaded, contentLength);
+
+            const int max = jmin ((int) bufferSize, contentLength < 0 ? std::numeric_limits<int>::max()
+                                                                      : static_cast<int> (contentLength - downloaded));
+
+            const int actual = stream->read (buffer.getData(), max);
+
+            if (threadShouldExit() || stream->isError())
+                break;
+
+            if (! fileStream->write (buffer.getData(), static_cast<size_t> (actual)))
+            {
+                error = true;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            downloaded += actual;
+        }
+
+        if (threadShouldExit() || (stream != nullptr && stream->isError()))
+            error = true;
+
+        finished = true;
+
+        if (listener != nullptr && ! threadShouldExit())
+            listener->finished (this, ! error);
+    }
+
+    //==============================================================================
+    ScopedPointer<FileOutputStream> fileStream;
+    size_t bufferSize;
+    HeapBlock<char> buffer;
+    ScopedPointer<WebInputStream> stream;
+    URL::DownloadTask::Listener* listener;
+};
+
+void URL::DownloadTask::Listener::progress (DownloadTask*, int64, int64) {}
+URL::DownloadTask::Listener::~Listener() {}
+
+//==============================================================================
+URL::DownloadTask* URL::DownloadTask::createFallbackDownloader (const URL& urlToUse,
+                                                                const File& targetFileToUse,
+                                                                const String& extraHeadersToUse,
+                                                                Listener* listenerToUse)
+{
+    const size_t bufferSize = 0x8000;
+    targetFileToUse.deleteFile();
+
+    if (ScopedPointer<FileOutputStream> outputStream = targetFileToUse.createOutputStream (bufferSize))
+    {
+        ScopedPointer<WebInputStream> stream = new WebInputStream (urlToUse, false);
+        stream->withExtraHeaders (extraHeadersToUse);
+
+        if (stream->connect (nullptr))
+            return new FallbackDownloadTask (outputStream.release(), bufferSize, stream.release(), listenerToUse);
+    }
+
+    return nullptr;
+}
+
+URL::DownloadTask::DownloadTask() : contentLength (-1), downloaded (0), finished (false), error (false), httpCode (-1) {}
+URL::DownloadTask::~DownloadTask() {}
+
+//==============================================================================
 URL::URL()
 {
 }
diff --git a/modules/juce_core/network/juce_URL.h b/modules/juce_core/network/juce_URL.h
index 20918dbf5f..8631557d28 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/network/juce_URL.h
+++ b/modules/juce_core/network/juce_URL.h
@@ -322,6 +322,81 @@ public:
                                        int numRedirectsToFollow = 5,
                                        String httpRequestCmd = String()) const;
 
+    //==============================================================================
+    /** Represents a download task.
+
+        Returned by downloadToFile to allow querying and controling the download task.
+    */
+    class DownloadTask
+    {
+    public:
+        struct Listener
+        {
+            virtual ~Listener();
+
+            /** Called when the download has finished. Be aware that this callback may
+                come on an arbitrary thread. */
+            virtual void finished (DownloadTask* task, bool success) = 0;
+
+            /** Called periodically by the OS to indicate download progress.
+                Beware that this callback may come on an arbitrary thread.
+            */
+            virtual void progress (DownloadTask* task, int64 bytesDownloaded, int64 totalLength);
+        };
+
+
+        /** Releases the resources of the download task, unregisters the listener
+            and cancels the download if necessary. */
+        virtual ~DownloadTask();
+
+        /** Returns the total length of the download task. This may return -1 if the length
+            was not returned by the server. */
+        inline int64 getTotalLength() const               { return contentLength; }
+
+        /** Returns the number of bytes that have been downloaded so far. */
+        inline int64 getLengthDownloaded() const          { return downloaded; }
+
+        /** Returns true if the download finished or there was an error. */
+        inline bool isFinished() const                    { return finished; }
+
+        /** Returns the status code of the server's response. This will only be valid
+            after the download has finished.
+
+            @see isFinished
+        */
+        inline int statusCode() const                     { return httpCode; }
+
+        /** Returns true if there was an error. */
+        inline bool hadError() const                      { return error; }
+
+    protected:
+        int64 contentLength, downloaded;
+        bool finished, error;
+        int httpCode;
+
+        DownloadTask ();
+
+    private:
+        friend class URL;
+
+        static DownloadTask* createFallbackDownloader (const URL&, const File&, const String&, Listener*);
+
+        JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (DownloadTask)
+    };
+
+    /** Download the URL to a file.
+
+     This method attempts to download the URL to a given file location.
+
+     Using this method to download files on mobile is less flexible but more reliable
+     than using createInputStream or WebInputStreams as it will attempt to download the file
+     using a native OS background network task. Such tasks automatically deal with
+     network re-connections and continuing your download while your app is suspended but are
+     limited to simple GET requests.
+     */
+    DownloadTask* downloadToFile (const File& targetLocation,
+                                  String extraHeaders = String(),
+                                  DownloadTask::Listener* listener = nullptr);
 
     //==============================================================================
     /** Tries to download the entire contents of this URL into a binary data block.
diff --git a/modules/juce_core/network/juce_WebInputStream.cpp b/modules/juce_core/network/juce_WebInputStream.cpp
index d5dae420f0..96d9fd7b86 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/network/juce_WebInputStream.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_core/network/juce_WebInputStream.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ WebInputStream& WebInputStream::withNumRedirectsToFollow (int num)             {
 StringPairArray WebInputStream::getRequestHeaders() const                      { return pimpl->getRequestHeaders(); }
 StringPairArray WebInputStream::getResponseHeaders()                           { connect (nullptr); return pimpl->getResponseHeaders(); }
 bool WebInputStream::isError() const                                           { return pimpl->isError(); }
+void WebInputStream::cancel()                                                  { pimpl->cancel(); }
 bool WebInputStream::isExhausted()                                             { return pimpl->isExhausted(); }
 int64 WebInputStream::getPosition()                                            { return pimpl->getPosition(); }
 int64 WebInputStream::getTotalLength()                                         { connect (nullptr); return pimpl->getTotalLength(); }
diff --git a/modules/juce_core/network/juce_WebInputStream.h b/modules/juce_core/network/juce_WebInputStream.h
index 84260c0635..b24f6d7a5e 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/network/juce_WebInputStream.h
+++ b/modules/juce_core/network/juce_WebInputStream.h
@@ -146,6 +146,9 @@ class JUCE_API WebInputStream : public InputStream
     /** Returns true if there was an error during the connection attempt */
     bool isError() const;
 
+    /** Will cancel a blocking read. */
+    void cancel();
+
     //==============================================================================
     /** Returns the total number of bytes available for reading in this stream.